In a landmark event intertwining technology with gender equality, the Philippines is poised to host the esteemed Global Girls in ICT Day (GGICT) on April 25, 2024. This pivotal occasion underscores the nation’s dedication to enhancing female participation in the realms of information and communications technology (ICT). The announcement came on the heels of International Women’s Day, during a notable gathering of women leaders in the ICT sector, orchestrated by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Backed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations entity focused on global ICT issues, the Philippines’ selection as the host for the 2024 GGICT Day reflects a profound commitment to bridging the gender gap in the tech industry. This initiative dovetails with DICT’s Digital Innovation for Women Advancement (DIWA) program, crafted to bolster opportunities for women in ICT careers and education.

The announcement was made by DICT Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development Jocelle Batapa-Sigue at the “Women in ICT: Gathering of DIWA Role Models” event, held at the Amazon Web Services (AWS) office in Taguig City. This assembly brought to light the significant contributions of women in ICT and rallied for greater female involvement in the sector. Undersecretary Batapa-Sigue spotlighted the theme “Leadership” for the upcoming GGICT, drawing attention to global endeavors aimed at empowering young women and girls in ICT and STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Mathematics).

The event served as a platform for discussing strategies to inspire more women to pursue technology-oriented careers. Choy Peng Wu, AWS’s Director for Government Transformation in ASEAN, emphasized the boundless opportunities within the tech sector, underlining the critical role of early STEM education and parental backing.

Expressing her appreciation, Batapa-Sigue thanked all participants, including those joining virtually from DICT’s regional offices. The DIWA initiative, unveiled in 2022, strives to further ITU’s mission of achieving gender parity in ICT and empowering women. This movement draws inspiration from Doreen Bogdan Martin’s historic election as ITU’s first female secretary-general.

The forthcoming GGICT Day symbolizes the Philippines’ resolve to narrow the ICT gender divide, showcasing the nation’s ambition to cultivate a more inclusive digital ecosystem. Despite women occupying 40% of high-skill jobs globally, their presence in ICT-related fields remains sparse. Women are notably underrepresented in software development, engineering, tech research, academia, and top-level policy-making roles. Furthermore, women tend to exit science and technology positions at a higher rate than men.

Addressing these challenges, the 2024 GGICT Day theme, “Leadership,” aims to inspire and develop female leadership in STEM, fostering a more equitable future in the sector. The DIWA project, aligned with international inclusivity commitments like the ITU Resolution 70 and the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, focuses on leveraging ICT for gender equality under SDG 5. It promotes equal ICT access and involves women and girls in diverse digital arenas, including education and skill development.

DIWA’s framework empowers regional offices to host their discussions and events, encouraging local empowerment and engagement. The program encompasses seminars, workshops, and skills training in areas like data analysis, digital marketing, and AI. It invites a broad spectrum of participants, from leaders and professionals to educators and students.

Featuring speakers from DICT, the private sector, and successful women in ICT, DIWA events aim to inspire and educate attendees, with post-event feedback being crucial for the initiative’s ongoing refinement. Through comprehensive guidelines and resources, DIWA ensures consistent quality in its activities, aspiring to uplift and empower Filipino women and girls through ICT, promoting gender equality and inclusive growth in the digital age. /Edwin Diaz and Photos by OUIID

ITU’s GIRLS IN ICT Messages:

In her speech for Girls in ICT Day, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the Secretary-General of ITU, emphasized leadership beyond titles, advocating for women’s active involvement in tech and STEM. Highlighting the low representation and leadership of women in ICT, she stressed the urgent need for change to ensure gender equality and inclusivity in the digital era. Bogdan-Martin called on young girls to join the tech sector and the international community to support and empower women in STEM, emphasizing the significance of Girls in ICT Day in promoting future female digital leaders.

In his speech on the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) website, Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava emphasized the ongoing significance of the International Day of Girls in ICT to the ITU, particularly the Telecommunications Development Bureau. He highlighted the persistent underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, noting that women hold less than one-third of STEM roles globally and are rarely in leadership positions. Dr. Zavazava pointed out the lack of encouragement and mentorship for girls and young women as a key barrier to achieving gender equality in STEM and emphasized the importance of empowering them to pursue leadership roles and develop necessary skills and networks.

Proudly, he mentioned that since 2011, nearly 380,000 girls and young women have participated in over 11,400 International Girls in ICT Day events across 175 countries, inspired by role models to pursue STEM education and careers. Dr. Zavazava stressed that maintaining momentum is crucial for the Girls in ICT Day to continue being a global movement aimed at achieving digital gender equality.

He advocated for a change in mindset and habits, not just titles, to enable girls to make significant contributions to society, especially through digital means. Dr. Zavazava underscored the importance of increasing the presence of girls and women in the tech sector for more inclusive digital tool and platform development. He noted the Telecommunications Development Bureau’s efforts to encourage female participation in ICT at all levels and invited everyone to celebrate the upcoming Girls in ICT Day on April 25, under the theme “Leadership”. He encouraged participation in various events and seeking inspiration from the ITU website or the #GirlsinICT hashtag, concluding with well wishes for the International Girls in ICT Day.